The Palace of Yú Yìfēi

Yìfēi had been asked to show the South territory to the Ghost King and his companions by the Emperor as they wanted to see the speciality of Wind Master's territory, They had only arrived at around noon and were busy talking with Wind Master as she explained to them about the diverse things sold at the market when they heard Water Master's voice.

"Han, Bao and Kang, all three of you will check with Rong whether he has completed the East Gates excursion and if there are any issues, solve them with him; we still have South Gates to deal with," ShuîYuê was talking to Yu Han as he followed behind her.

"Water Master, the West Gates wasn't impaired at all. Of course, People were harmed, but it has the least defects among the four gates," Yu Han mentioned as they entered the Main Hall.

"Earth Master protected the West Gates flawlessly so of course there aren't any defects at all, but be sure to review with her general as well in case she needs assistance tell Bai Yan to address things from the Wudu Palace," ShuîYuê replied as Anxi bowed to her, she had entered the Side Hall.

"Water Master-" ShuîYuê raised her hand, implying five more minutes to Anxi as Yu Han was showing her a letter from the Southeastern mountains. Everyone in the room stared at her as she walked in.

"Hmm, that's good, still have someone check in at the Southeastern mountain once in a while," She looked up at Yu Han who was staring at something, so naturally ShuîYuê's eyes wandered in the general direction to see Ghost King sitting in the left seat and his other ghost companions sitting in their respective seats as Yìfēi sat in the main seat.

"Ahh, It's Water Master," Yông Zìxìn taunted, acting surprised.

"Who would you be, sir?" Yu Han asked, getting protective.

"Me? I am General Yông and you little boy?" Yông Zìxìn asked arrogantly; He was always arrogant. He made sure to speak and behave in an unruly manner to aggravate people.

"Yu Han, Wind Master's Chief General,"  he replied proudly.

"How would a little boy like you protect the lovely Wind Master?" Yông Zìxìn asked, clearly insinuating. Yu Han drew his sword out, furious; he wasn't hot-headed. It was just General Yông Zìxìn who could manage to irritate the calmest people.

ShuîYuê pushed his sword back into the scabbard with her palm, "Water Master?"  he asked in disbelief.

"It's alright, you can go back first," she said to him; he was reluctant to leave Wind and Water Master alone with this General of ghosts, but he followed when Water Master nodded her head at him; he looked at Anxi once again who was looking back nervously at him.

"Water Master, what are you doing here?" Yông Zìxìn questioned.

"I can't come over at a fellow elemental palace?" she questioned back.

"ShuîYuê, ignore him, Take a seat first," Yìfēi said brightly. ShuîYuê sat to her right, the reserved seat of Water Master. "Ghost King wanted to explore the South territory, so I was just telling them about the various things sold here," Yìfēi explained.

Water Master nodded her head in understanding as Anxi served her tea.
"How are you here today? " Yìfēi asked curiously.

"Work," ShuîYuê answered, sipping on her tea.

"Of course," Yìfēi rolled her eyes.

"Anyways, I'll be leaving now," ShuîYuê said, standing up.

"Why? Where are you going? You just got here a minute ago, and you are leaving already!" Yìfēi complained.

"I needed to see Yu Han personally, so I dropped by," ShuîYuê voiced simply.

"But-"

"I'll be leaving now," she spoke bowing to Ghost King, who stared at her.

"Stay for lunch, at least," Yìfēi pouted cutely. ShuîYuê was, of course, as usual, immune to Yìfēi's cute attacks and not going to stay here, but Anxi held her hand tightly as she was standing next to her.

"Please," she pleaded, ShuîYuê's instincts told her that Anxi was scared for Yìfēi's safety, four ghosts that too one of them was a Supreme Ghost King and another a ruthless warrior so, of course, she was nervous about them being here and if ShuîYuê left too she won't be able to control anything at all.

"I'll stay," ShuîYuê sat down as Anxi smiled at her, thankful.

"Huh, you are staying? I didn't have to ask you a million times, and you agreed at once. Are you ShuîYuê?" Yìfēi asked suspiciously.

"I'll leave if you want me to," ShuîYuê challenged, rolling her eyes.

"Oh no, no, my palace isn't as blessed as the Martial Hall, so stay here as long as you like," Yìfēi sassed.

"Anxi, get the lunch served," Yìfēi ordered Anxi, who bowed and left.

The lunch was served, and Yìfēi was telling the ghosts about the various delicacies that were authentic to the South as they ate. ShuîYuê had no interest in speaking so she was enjoying the tasty food of the palace

"The market is massive it'll take you a few days to explore it entirely," Yìfēi said proudly.

"We would, of course, love to explore every bit of the Heavens," Chéng Huá spoke, staring at ShuîYuê, who was eating before he smiled at Yìfēi.

"Wonderful, I'll show you around everything!" Yìfēi gushed excitedly.

"Thank you, Wind Master, for your hospitality," Ghost King thanked earnestly.

"Please, I love having guests at my palace," Yìfēi waved her hand.

"I want to buy some new pants," Xià MíngLóng mentioned suddenly.

"Sure, we'll go to the best tailor," Yìfēi replied, enthusiastically.

"Water Master you are oddly quiet," Yông Zìxìn pointed out.

"I don't like to speak much, General Yông," she responded offhandedly.

"How about you show us around with Wind Master?" Yông Zìxìn asked, his eyes twinkling with harmless retaliation.

'This brat! He's dragging me for something I hate the most crowds, shopping!' ShuîYuê's right eye twitched in annoyance, 'He bought this up, and now Yìfēi is surely going to have me join them as well,' and just as she thought about it, Yìfēi beamed.

"That's an incredible idea! YueYue, you have to come with us. I won't listen to any excuses," Yìfēi ordered firmly.

ShuîYuê glared at Yông Zìxìn who smiled coyly, 'This brat, I'll kill him!' she thought to herself.

"Yue Yue! You are coming to explore with us, and that's final !" Yìfēi said decidedly, looking at ShuîYuê.

"I have work -"

"All you do is work! You are never free! You don't even visit my palace if you don't have work! The maids from my palace pray every single day so you would come," Yìfēi snapped, getting up and sitting next to ShuîYuê who backed away, scared for her life.

"Wait, hang on! Do maids pray for the Water Master to come?" Yông Zìxìn asked, laughing.

"Yes, she's the crush of my entire palace," Yìfēi answered, simply wondering why this stupid General was laughing so much.

"Praying for the Water Master to come,"  Yông Zìxìn couldn't stop laughing as he said that again and again.

ShuîYuê knew why he was laughing so much She understood in what context this brat took the simple word come, but Yìfēi was clueless as ever.

"YueYue is the crush of my entire palace!" Yìfēi repeated not understanding why this general thought YueYue couldn't be the crush of her entire Palace, and why was he laughing.

"I can't believe you said that!" Yông Zìxìn snickered, clutching his stomach.

ShuîYuê glared at him, "Why is it so difficult to believe?" Yìfēi asked Yông Zìxìn.

"It isn't, but really, I didn't think you would be the female casanova of this place," he responded, wiping his eyes.

"Why? Can you be the only Casanova or what?" Yìfēi asked, irritated.

"I am the casanova of Hell," he disclosed proudly.

'Of course, he fucked with girls every single night,' ShuîYuê thought as she had heard about the General from reliable sources, Ling Wen.

"So what if you are the casanova of hell? My YueYue is the casanova of my Palace and no one can take her place," Yìfēi challenged.

"Is she your casanova too? Because I would love to be," Yông Zìxìn flirted with Yìfēi.

"Yes, she is," Yìfēi replied sassily. And to say that the look on the General's face wasn't funny would be underestimating the word, he looked purely shocked.

Zìxìn always had girls shy away once he flirted with them, but he had never had anyone say anything like this to him; he was dumbstruck as MíngLóng and YànQīng giggled at him; he was so embarrassed for the first time in his life and all thanks to this foolish Wind Master.

"Let's finish our lunch," Chéng Huá said trying to change the topic.

"Ghost King! Why can't your General believe that my YueYue is a casanova?" Yìfēi asked Ghost King confused.

ShuîYuê was having the time of her life when Yông Zìxìn was embarrassed by Yìfēi's reply but it seemed that karma was a bitch and came to bite her right back,
'Why does Yìfēi have to embarrass me in front of everyone!' she thought to herself.

"Wind Master, let's eat first," Ghost King tried to save some face for his General and Water Master but it all seemed to fail in front of Wind Master.

"Ghost King, I'll have everyone confess their crush on my YueYue in my palace so your General can believe that he isn't the only casanova," Yìfēi quickly summoned a few maids inside who were peeping at Water Master.

"Go on, girls, say it," she encouraged the maids who were being glared at by Water Master.

"I-I like the Water Master," a maid stuttered suddenly as she held ShuîYuê's hand tightly.

"Will you please let me be yours?" she asked shyly, ShuîYuê blinked in shock.
'What the fuck?' she thought to herself.

"Water Master, please. I have liked you for a long time," the maid confessed desperately.

ShuîYuê pulled her hands away from this maid, "I don't like you," she replied nonchalantly, The maid's lips wobbled as she burst out crying, "Don't cry!" ShuîYuê added, panicked, looking at Anxi for help.

"Wind Master, your casanova breaks her lover's heart. On the other hand, you have never turned anyone down," Yông Zìxìn sneered arrogantly.

"Can we stop discussing already!" ShuîYuê snapped irritated.

"But-"

"No buts, sit down and finish your lunch," ShuîYuê interjected Yìfēi who pouted.

The awkward lunch, which involved a debate on Water Master's skills in bed, finally came to an end.

"We will go exploring tomorrow," Yìfēi cheered.

"Sure," Chéng Huá agreed, getting up.

"YueYue, you are coming tomorrow!" Yìfēi said more like an order; Water Master didn't say anything and left. She also didn't show up to explore with Wind Master and the ghosts after being embarrassed at Yìfēi's palace so badly.

Three days later

Wudu Palace

Jade carried a basket of fresh flowers she had plucked from the garden to take them to the kitchen, Mei had asked her to help her a little since Jade was good friends with Mei she helped her happily, entering the kitchen of Wudu Palace she sneezed at the choking smoke of the red pepper being cooked in oil, Mei was preparing pepper oil, she had spent the entire morning grinding dried red pepper and was lastly cooking them in oil.

"Here are the flowers you asked for, Mei JîeJîe," Jade informed, placing the basket on the table.

Mei coughed a little, dipping her head in thanks, "Jade can you bring a couple of towels for Master to Xia River? I still have to cool this chilli oil and pour it into glass jars."

Jade nodded her head before leaving; she grabbed some towels and stood at the shore of Xia River, where Prince Jīnyú practices his transformations; she couldn't spot Water Master anywhere, so she stopped Aunt Rong Pei quickly and asked her.

"Master is meditating right now; you'll find her behind the West chambers; there is a whole other side of Xia River where Master cultivates," Aunt Rong Pei explained before going away to finish her tasks.

Jade pepped behind the West chambers to find a stream of water flowing forwards, she followed that stream to stop in front of a deep waterfall, "I never knew there was a waterfall behind Wudu Palace, how's this possible the back and the right side has port and the front and left has the ground, how can there be such a deep waterfall?" She wondered squinting her eyes to see a black figure in the centre of the river.

She took the stairs built of stones and descended to the ground; stopping a distance, she figured it was Water Master sitting in water which reached her stomach, meditating.

Jade walked the path to the centre of the water. As she neared, she was the path ahead of her disappearing in the water; a cold breeze began to blow, swaying Jade's clothes softly, 'Is this how Master meditates all the time?' She wondered, and her eyes widened at the silver sphere glimmering around her Master. Curiosity got the better of Jade, and she walked forward, caressing the silver sphere with her fingers.

ShuîYuê's eyes shot open as she took a shaky breath, and turned her head to find Jade touching her moon shield, only it wasn't her moon shield but her cultivated spiritual energy, which she created only to make her moon shield stronger; Jade giggled, poking the silver sphere.

"Stop that," Water Master's voice startled Jade who jumped back in shock, "What are you doing here?" She asked closing her eyes and dissolving her spiritual energy.

Jade fumbled with her fingers, "I- I towels!" She cried hurriedly, "Mei JîeJîe told me to bring you towels."

ShuîYuê cocked her eyebrow, "Where are the towels?" She questioned.

"R-right!" Jade ran away to pick up the tray of towels she had placed at the stairs, In the meantime Water Master had stood up and walked out of the water, "Here," she added holding the tray to ShuîYuê's face who glanced at Jade before taking a towel and wiping her hands before sitting on the stairs, Jade furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, "You wouldn't go change Master?"

"I'll have to restart my meditation," Water Master answered cracking her neck.

Jade lowered her head feeling guilty, "I disturbed you."

ShuîYuê looked up at her face, which had guilt written all over it, "No, you didn't," Water Master lied swiftly, "I couldn't concentrate well; I'll try again after a small break."

Jade lifted her head, "Why do you meditate Master?"

ShuîYuê glanced at her, "Keeps one's mind calm and steady,"

"But why inside water?" Jade asked tilting her head to the side.

"I am a water elemental; I must do meditation in water from time to time and under the moon occasionally," ShuîYuê answered, relaxing her legs.

"Won't you catch a cold?" She questioned curiously.

"That silver sphere protects me," Water Master responded, pressing her thighs against the thread of the stairs; Jade's eyes stared at her thighs, "Everyone has different methods of cultivation."

Jade averted her gaze from Water Master's thighs, "Were you a born elemental?"

ShuîYuê shook her head, "No one is born with these powers; they'll grow in your body on their own; you have to cultivate to be able to manipulate them to your will; you get used to the cultivation you do or the powers you have."

"But I heard that Fire Master was born with fire powers," Jade pointed out.

"He wasn't exactly born with them. They cultivated inside of him since a distant uncle of his was the former Fire Master. The powers were in his blood, and they can show up in any member of the family, provided they are on the same side," Water Master explained.

"His father is related to his uncle; that's why they cultivated in him; they wouldn't cultivate on anyone from his mother's side," Jade summarised.

"Precisely, if his mother was related to his uncle, those powers would have been cultivated in either Xiàn Fèng or the children on his mother's family's side," Water Master said, finding Jade's curiosity amusing.

"But some are also born with elemental powers," Jade furrowed her eyebrows, "I read a fire elemental's daughter was born with them."

ShuîYuê nodded, "It's rare; elemental powers don't stay in the same family for long; they always skip generations or develop in distant family members, but if they do, the cultivator is exceptional to pass down those powers to their children."

"So if you had kids they could be born with water and moon powers?" Jade wondered staring at ShuîYuê.

"If I marry someone with a higher cultivation than me, perhaps, but no chance if the other person has a lower cultivation than me," ShuîYuê answered shrugging her shoulders.

"Did someone in your family have water and moon powers too?" Jade inquired.

"Not anyone I know of," Water Master answered stiffly, Jade nodded her head,

"Can I cultivate too?" She asked with hopeful eyes.

"The optimistic answer is anyone can cultivate, the pessimist answer is cultivation isn't for everyone, so you can't, and the realistic answer is you can cultivate, but a lot of different things are to be taken into consideration," Water Master said, Crossing her arms.

"How can someone like me cultivate?" She questioned in a joyful tone.

"Firstly you have to give up on some worldly pleasure, like food, comfort, luxury and bodily pleasures," Water Master answered and when Jade continued to look at her with curiosity she sighed, "The basic cultivation starts with food, something you don't like and decide to give up also counts as a sacrifice, then as you increase what you give up and continue to meditate with determination you'll slowly start to feel more energetic and as years go by you'll slowly start to develop spiritual powers."

"That's a long process," Jade commented with a pout.

"It is; that's why people don't cultivate. It's not easy, and you have to keep meditating and practising consistently to keep your spiritual powers," ShuîYuê said with a sigh.

"How did you become a Water Master at such a young age?" Jade asked the question she had always wanted to know.

"My powers developed slowly when I was young, and then I cultivated for four years and got my spiritual weapon, then I took exams to get Water Master's position," ShuîYuê said like it was no big deal.

"But you are so powerful," Jade stated looking at ShuîYuê all starry-eyed.

"Elemental powers are the quickest to manifest in one's body, but they are often the hardest to control, all the Martial officials give up on luxury and comfort to cultivate spiritual powers for their body which makes them invisible in battles; civil officials give up on bodily pleasures to cultivate their minds and are the most intelligent; some exceptions, like the Crown prince and Emperor, are highly strong cultivators and have both civil and marital powers," Water Master explained in detail.

"Is there any other way to cultivate instead of the usual one?" Jade inquired with a slight frown.

ShuîYuê hesitated for a few seconds, "A big sacrifice usually triggers immense spiritual growth in the body and with the cultivation of a few years one masters both the civil and martial powers."

"Did the Emperor and Crown prince sacrifice too?"

ShuîYuê shook her head, "They cultivated through the morally right way."

"Then, if I give up on my sleep, will I trigger spiritual growth?" Jade questioned puzzled.

"No, sacrifice has to be bigger than that and with intense emotions to trigger spiritual growth," Water Master replied standing up, "Don't think of cutting off your fingers and hope you'll trigger spiritual powers, it doesn't work that easily, I have seen enough fools slicing their toes and ears thinking they can be immortals," she added sternly.

Jade pouted to show her annoyance, "I heard one can transfer spiritual powers as well."

ShuîYuê sat back down; it seemed like she wouldn't be meditating today, "Yes, but only if the other person is a cultivator too; the level of cultivation doesn't matter, but the weaker cultivator can't transfer spiritual powers to the stronger cultivator since their spiritual demand is more."

"How do you transfer it?" Jade questioned confirmed.

"Physical contact is a must for a difference in cultivation levels, the stronger cultivators can transfer spiritual powers without having any physical contact, but that's possible only for highly cultivated immortals, like the Emperor," ShuîYuê answered.

"What type of physical contact?" Jade pried, Water Master cocked her eyebrow,
"For knowledge," she added nervously.

"A touch to the shoulders or the upper back, the person has to be conscious for this, then a forehead press if the person is unconscious," Water Master responded keeping her eyes on the water.

"What's a pair practice? I heard some officials talking about it in whispers," Jade mentioned suddenly. ShuîYuê started to cough patting her chest to calm down.

"You don't need to know," ShuîYuê mumbled standing up.

"Those officials said it doubles the spiritual powers of both the people," Jade reported what she heard.

ShuîYuê turned away from her, "It requires total trust on both parts."

"You and Miss Yú trust each other completely, did you guys try it? You must, you'll be even more powerful!" Jade beamed.

"Yìfēi and I can't do that! It doesn't work that way," ShuîYuê muttered embarrassed.

"Why? Those officials said they were going to pair practice in the night, how does it work?" Jade inquired curiously.

"Master!" Jīnyú's voice echoed from the top of the stairs as he ran down ShuîYuê turned to Jade.

"Not a word of pair practice in front of Jīnyú, got it?" Water Master asked in her infamous cold voice as Jade nodded her head frightened.

"Master! Aunt Rong Pei made mung bean cakes for dessert with ganba mushroom soup!" He chortled as he spoke, "I can't wait for lunch!!"

"Calm down, you came here to tell me this?" ShuîYuê asked with a small smile.

He made a big O with his lips, "I forget, silly me; you received a letter from Fire Master," he informed, holding up the letter for ShuîYuê, who took it from his hands; Jīnyú stared at her expectantly.

ShuîYuê read the letter with a frown before rolling it back and looking up to find Jīnyú still standing there, "What?" She asked confounded.

"I brought this letter faster than Souxin JîeJîe," he pointed out.

ShuîYuê shook her head with a dimpled smile, "Thank you, now go and study," she said, patting his head; he gave her a bright smile before he ran away. ShuîYuê chuckled at the way he ran and hit his toe on the stairs, arguing with it for a few seconds before running away, "Save me from this adorable fish," she mumbled, noticing Jade staring up at her; she started to walk away.

"Master! You didn't tell me what pair practice is," Jade yelled, and ShuîYuê turned around so fast, worried Jīnyú might hear her.

She walked straight up to Jade, "Do not shout that," she warned with a stern glare,
Jade was frozen in her spot as Water Master got closer to her face, "Pair practice is not to be done with just anyone, it's a very intimate form of spiritual energy exchange, so don't mention it so casually," ShuîYuê whispered.

Jade stared into her eyes with a burning face, "And don't agree to do it, some bastards take advantage of people in the name of pair practice when they don't have any cultivation in the first place," ShuîYuê added firmly.

"Wh- What advantage?"Jade stuttered,

"Pair practice is spiritual powers exchanged in the form of sex," Water Master stated leaning back as Jade took a breath she didn't realise she was holding,
"That's why don't mention it casually," she added before walking away. Jade blinked, her eyes melting from embarrassment.
________________________________
Author's note duty on Jade, eyes darting back and forth Jade blushes hard,

" Go- good day, I hope you enjoyed this long chapter, I learned a lot of things today, I think I'll leave now," leaves with even more red cheeks,

Word count: 4k, thank you for reading. Have a great day, take care of yourselves, and drink some coconut water 🥥, I'll see you next week. Till then, bye-bye!!